Handling of thin walled containers

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for handling thin walled containers including a handling unit comprising a plurality of individual container holders each adapted to hold a container in upright manner therein, means maintaining the holders in spaced relationship and defining an endless path, means for moving the holders in said endless path, each of said holders being split vertically to define two parts which are relatively displaceable vertically from a holder closed position to a holder open position in which a container can be moved horizontally into the upper holder part, and means for relatively displacing vertically the holder parts of each holder from the holder closed position to the holder open position and for returning the parts to the holder closed position.

United States Patent French et al.

HANDLING OF THIN WALLED CONTAINERS Inventors: John A. French; John C. Turner,

both of St. Albans, England Assignee: Schweppes Limited, St. Albans,

England Filed: Nov. 1, 1972 Appl. No; 302,961

Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 5, 1971 United Kingdom..... 51446/71 Nov. 5, 1971 United Kingdom..... 51447/71 Nov. 5, 1971 United Kingdom 51448/71 U.S. Cl. 141/172; 53/187; 53/384;

141/174; 198/131; 214/1 BC Int. Cl. B65b 43/60 Field of Search 53/187, 384; 141/114, 165, 141/166, 168, 252, 253, 269, 270, 369, 370, 163, 283,1,10,169175,177, 275, 281,

E, 8.5 H, 8.5 K

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1913 Hoepner 141/114 X 1 July 22, 1975 1,151,970 8/1915 Seamans .1 141/252 X 1,979,089 10/1934 Adams.... 2l4/8.5 K

2,181,603 11/1939 Long 198/131 2,433,736 12/1947 Carew..... 214/8.5 K

3,431,703 3/1969 Miller 141/114 X 3,630,242 12/1971 Schieser.. 141/114 X 3,698,451 10/1972 Hudson 141/114 X Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter Assistant Examiner-Frederick R. Schmidt Atlorney, Agent, or Firm-Fred Philpitt [5 7] ABSTRACT Apparatus for handling thin walled containers includ ing a handling unit comprising a plurality of individual container holders each adapted to hold a container in upright manner therein, means maintaining the holders in spaced relationship and defining an endless path, means for moving the holders in said endless path, each of said holders being split vertically to de fine two parts which are relatively displaceable vertically from a holder closed position to a holder open position in which a container can be moved horizon tally into the upper holder part, and means for rela tively displacing vertically the holder parts of each holder from the holder closed position to the holder open position and for returning the parts to the holder closed position.

11 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL22 ms 3.895560 SHEET 3 F7Ci4- PATENTED JUL 2 2 I975 SHEET PATENTED JUL 2 2 I975 SHEET 5 WUE HANDLING OF THIN WALLED CONTAINERS The containers themselves may be of any suitable material such as thin plastics material which may be a laminate or thin metal.

A particularly suitable adaptation for the invention is for handling containers which are not freestanding, or which. although capable of freestanding. are of flimsy material such that, for example, during filling they need additional support. Should the need arise, however, the apparatus can be used for handling any thi'nwalled container.

' We are not aware of any relevant prior proposals which are sufficiently close to warrant consideration here.

According to the invention, in its broadest aspect, there is provided handling apparatus for handling thin walled containers including a handling unit comprising a plurality of individual container holders each adapted to locate and support a container therein, said holders being adapted to move in an endless path, and each including two or more parts which are capable of movement one relative to the other to open and close the holder. the holders being mounted so that for each holder at least once during a complete cycle of movement along said endless path, the holder is closed to support a container therein, whilst some other opera tion is carried out in relation thereto and is opened to allow removal and/or insertion of the container.

The said endless path is preferably defined by a pitch circle of a horizontal rotatable table on which the holders are carried.

The holders preferably are each in two shells, an inner shell and an outer shell, in relation to the axis of rotation of said table, the inner and outer shells being capable of relative sliding movement, to a limited extent sufficient to open and close the holder, in a direction parallel to said axis of rotation of the table.

To open the holder, preferably the outer shell is adapted to slide downwards exposing the inner shell and so that a container can be moved into a inner shell in a direction transverse to the axis of the table. In the subsequent closing of the holder, the outer shell slides upwards until it is in horizontal alignment with the inner shell. The holder is preferably open for a sufficient proportion of the circular path of travel to enable one container to be removed in a transverse direction, and another container inserted.

Control of the movement of the outer shell relative to the inner shell may be achieved by means of a cam and follower arrangement. A follower connected to each outer shell engages a common cam track extending circumferentially relative to the table.

In some cases, such as in the filling of containers, it may be desirable that the container, whilst still in the holder should be raised to engage and seal with a filling head to this end each holder may be adapted to be raised whilst in the closed condition and holding a container, relative to the table. In one example, each holder is provided with a raising ram which is actuated to perform this raising of the holder. Operation of each ram is synchronised with the rotation of the table and the filling of the containers.

Of each holder, the shells preferably define identical halves of a cavity shaped neatly to the outer shape of the container to be handled. i

The handling apparatus according to the invention preferably further includes a de-stacker for separating containers one by one from the bottom of a stack of nested containers, and empty container feed means for feeding the containers individually and synchronism to said container holders.

Furthermore, the apparatus may include transfer means for transferring containers from the holders to a combining sub-assembly wherein each container is combined with an outer cup. Each container may pass through a washing and drying unit before being passed to the sub-assembly.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example. with reference to the ac companying drawing; wherein FIG. I is a sectional elevation of a holder forming part of the holding unit of the apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional plan taken on line AA of FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a de-stacker unit of the apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation taken on the line BB of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional elevation taken on the line D-D of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the combining unit of the apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional elevation taken on the line GG of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional elevation taken on the line C-C of FIG. 7.

Referring firstly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a part of a rotatable horizontal holder table isshown in the drawings by the reference numeral 10 the table being rotatable about a vertical axis. In this example the containers are to be handled for filling. The section through the table, FIG. I, is taken at the peripheral region of the table and shows one container holder in co-operative relationship with a filling head 12 of known construction whereby a container in the holder may be filled, in this case with carbonated beverage, It is to be appreciated that the table 10 has a plurality of holders each as shown in FIG. 1, these holders being equally spaced around the periphery of the table 10.

Each holder comprises two shells 14 and 16 which together define a cavity 18 for a container of similar shape, the shells 14 and 16 defining identical halves of cavity 18 when the shells l4 and 16 are in the position shown in FIG. 1 which is the closed position.

The shell 14 is mounted on a block 20 secured to the table 10 so that shell 14 can slide relative to block 20 by the amount from the position shown in FIG. 1 until stop 22 on shell 14 contacts the top face of block 20. The shell 14 is provided with a dove-tail section which engages in a corresponding slideway 24 (see in particular FIG. 2) defined in the block 20 to ensure that shell 14 is free only to slide vertically relative to block 20.

Further slide bars 26 define a slideway for the shell 16 to enable this shell to slide vertically relative to block 20, but to a greater extent than shell 14 can slide on block 20. shell 16 has a corresponding dove-tail sec tion 28 (see in particular FIG. 2) which engages between the bars 26.

Each holder is associated with a pneumatic ram indi cated at 30 which is for raising the holder upwardly so that the container in cavity 18 engages the filling head 12. This is the position shown in FIG. 1, i.e., ram 30 is extended. Ram 30 is connected via its piston rod with the shell 16 and shells l4 and 16 and ram 30 rotate in unison with the rotation of the table 10.

On the outer side of shell 16, there is a follower roller 32 which engages a cam track extending circumferentially of the table to ensure that shell 16 moves in the desired manner during each rotation of the table 10.

Thus. as the table 10 rotates, each of the holder arrangements, as shown in FIG. 1. operates in a desired sequence of events whereby containers of the configuration which is the same as cavity 18 are loaded into the holders are then filled from the filling head 12 and tinally are removed from the holders for further process- Considering the sequence of events from the position shown in FIG. 1, the filling head 12 rotates with the table 10 and filling is completed over a fraction of one complete revolution of the table. It is to be noted that the shells l4 and 16 are designed such that the top edges of the shells locate under a de-nesting ring on the container and by this means push the container into sealing engagement with the filling head. Thatis to say the body of the container does not take much if any stress due to the pressure with which the upper edge of the container is pressed to the sealing head.

When filling has been completed the pressure in ram 30 is removed and a spring 34 acts to pull down shell 14. Because shell 14 bears on shell 16 through the spacing and pressure block 36, in the first stage of movement shells 14 and 16 are lowered together until stop 22 engages the top edge of block when further lowering movement of shell 14 ceases. At this point roller 32 engages the cam track so that further movement of shell 16 in a downwards direction is also prohibited. As the holder continues to rotate with the table, roller 32 eventually engages a section of the cam which is a heli cal path in relation to the axis of rotation of the table and thereby the shell 16 is moved downwardly until such times as the container in cavity 18 is exposed and can be moved in a radial direction relative to the axis of rotation of the table 10. Indeed, the container in cavity 18 is removed with its contents and is held upright by suitable guide means. The container is moved into a removing table which rotates in synchronism with the table 10. The shells 14 and 16 remain in this position until a further empty container is placed in the half cavity defined by shell 14. This empty container is held in the half cavity defined by shell 14 by suitable guides extending circumferentially of the table until such times as roller 32 engages another section of the cam track which causes shell 16 to lift up to the position in which the complete cavity is defined and the holder is closed. The shells 14 and 16 remain in this position until the ram is actuated at which point the holder is raised as a unit to the sealing head 12 as indicated in FIG. 1.

The adaptation of the pneumatic ram 30 for raising the holder as a unit up to the sealing head enables a good seal between the container and the sealing head during the filling. This seal is necessary in the case of filling containers with carbonated beverage because if there is any pressure leak then there is a danger that the carbonation balance of the liquid will be destroyed.

It is to be appreciated that this handling unit primarily is for handling containers and in particular is for handling containers which are not free-standing or containers of which the wall is of a very flimsy material and I the containers require to be filled underpressure because the adaptation of the cavity to the container outer shape provides that each container is supported against eternal pressure during filling. It is'not necessary that these containers be handled in this manner for filling operations. As an alternative where containers have to be lidded then they could be handled by this apparatus and they would be moved up to a lidding head or a seaming head instead of a filling head as indicated in and described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

This handling unit is extremely suitable for handling containers which are not free-standing as clearly would be containers of the configuration of cavity 18. The arrangement enables the containers to be moved into the shell 14 in a direction transverse and removed similarly to the direction in which the shells l4 and 16 are slid apart. In the overall system ahead of the filling unit described, having regard to the direction of flow of containers, is a destacking unit for dropping one-by-one empty containers from the bottom of a stack of such containers. A feed means in the form of a transfer table which is rotatable about a vertical axis, serves to transfer the empty individual containers from the de-stacker and into the individual shells 14.

In this connection, reference is made to FIGS. 3 to 5, which show a suitable de-stacking unit, and such unit includes a housing which is mounted for rotation about the horizontal axis indicated by 112 in FIG. 3. The housing includes a top plate section 114 which is provided with a boss 116 surrounding an aperture 118.

Equiangularly spaced around the aperture 118 are three support rods 120 which serve to hold a stack of the containers to be accepted by the unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The container stack is indicated at 122 in FIG. 4 in position in the de-stacker unit. The rotary transfer table passes under the aperture 118 and the bottom of stack 122, and this transfer table is provided at equal intervals on the pitch circle indicated by 124 in FIG. 3 with a plurality of individual container receiving cavities the arrangement being that the stack of containers is placed between the guides 120 and the containers pass through the aperture 118 as they are de-nested individually from the bottom of the stack and the individual containers are positioned in the holders travelling on pitch circle 124. Pitch circle 124 lies in a horizontal plane and has its center at the axis of rotation of the transfer table.

The plate 110 and the components carried thereby are not normally moved during the de-stacking operation, a spring loaded plunger 126 serving to hold the plate 110 in position by locating in a bore 128 in a stationary framework work 130 on which the plate 110 is mounted. Should it be desired to swing the plate 110 and the components carried thereby clear of the table having the cavities on pitch circle 124, then plunger 126 is pulled manually as indicated by arrow 132 in FIG. 4 thereby releasing same from the bore 128 and the plate 110 and the components carried thereby can be swung about axis 112 and clear of the transfer table. This is useful in cases where it may be desired to clear a blockage of containers 122.

In swinging the plate 110 from the in use position shown to the out of use position described, a gear 134 rotates another gear 136 with which it meshes and gear 136 is in'turn drivingly connected to a rotary damper unit 138 to retard 'the acceleration of the plate 110 between the in use and out ofuse positions.

The plate 110 includes means for imparting to'the bottom container in the stack an initial separation from V the remainder of the stack and also means whereby jets of air can blow the partially separated container away 'from'the remainder of the stack and :quickly into the '122. EAch rotor 140 thus has a=helical-groove 144 therein and it is, in this groove in each rotor-whichthe flange of each container locates as it is separated from the bottom of the stack. The rotors 140 aregdrivingly connected to vertical shafts 146' and gears 148 connected to the top ends of shafts 146 are drivingly interconnected by means of an endless band of toothed timing belt 150 to ensure'that the rotors 140 rotate at exactly the same speed and in relation to their helical grooves 144 are exactly in phase. i

One of the shafts 146 carries on a portion which extends above the gear l48,,a further gear 152 which meshes with a drive pinion 154 which is carried by a vertical shaft 156 which extends through and'isrotatably mounted on the plate..1'10.* At; the lower end of shaft 156, there is a.bevel gear 158 and this meshes with a further bevel gear 1-60v carried bythe shaft 162 which lies at right angles-to thei shaft 1156.and which also defines the said axis 112. At the right hand end of shaft 162 there is a drive sprocket 164 around which is trained a drive chain 166whichreceives power from a sprocket carried on the drive shaft coupled to. the transfertable having the container cavities on pitch circle .This ensures that the mechanical drive-means for giving an initial separation to the containers 122 is driven insynchrOnism with the transfer table to ensurezthe accurate dropping of the containers 122 into the cavities on pitch circle I24. Y 1

inaddition to the mechanical separation of the.- bottom container from the remainder of the stack,,there is also a pneumatic separation oftthe, said container l22. This pneumatic separationis achieved by providing that the lower ends of the rods 120 are hollow (see FIG S) and wherethey are. located in flange 116, each rod 120 communicates-with an inle t-166A=wh ich .en-.

ables a supply of air. under ,pressure .totravel through the inlet '166Aand into the. interior of rod 120. A.t .its

. extreme lower-ends'each rodisproyided: withanozzle 168 from which a jet of air can issue in adownwards and inwards direction, considering .the stack of containers 122 as being locatedvertically and within the space defined by the rods-. 120. I Y I i Thus, by virtue ofthe fact that there are three rods 120 then there are threejets of air whichto blow: the partially separatedcdntainer away! fromthe remainder of the stack .quickly and into-thepassing cavity sin the transfer table '124. By virtue of blowingtha container away from the remainder. of thestack this. ensures that there is a minimurn of time delay, between the sep aration of the containerfrom thestackand-its placement in the cavity which is. travellinginatransverse direction underneath the stack. Because gthere is the minimum of "time delay in placement of each container in the travel;

ling cavity, then the cavity can travelon pitch circle 124 in a continuous motion and this leads to a simplification of the driving mechanism for the table. In an alternative arrangement, instead'of a rotary transfer table there may be arcontinuousendless conveyor which carries-means definingithe cavities and in this case. the "cavitieswould travel not onwanarcuate path as.indi.-

cated by circle 124 butin a-straight pathzunderneath thebotto'm of the stack. i

' yBrieflythe operationof the de-stacker unit illustrated and described is as follows. Drive is transmitted through a'ichain 166. to sprocket'164 and in turn this causes rotation through gear 160 and 158 of gear 154.- Gear 154 drives gear 152 and in turn the three rotors are rotated. With a stack of containers 122 in the "holder as shown in FlG..4 then the bottom container is separated initially as shown .by engagement of the container'flange with the. helicaligrooves 144 of rotors 140 and then at the correct instant in time, the jets of air are issued from nozzle 168 propelling the container away from theremainder-of the stack and into the cavity travelling transversely under the. stack of-containerss Thesynchronising 'of the application of the air jetsris achieved by providing a cam (not shown) in the drive between the. table and the mechanical separation means and this cam actuates a follower at the correct frequencyand actuation of the follower causes the application momentarily of an air jet from each of nozzles l68.-.2 It will be appreciated that the de-stackerunit can' be used with containers ofrdiff erent forms. In the example described .we have. illustrated a container which is generally tapered in shape and has as a top peripheral flange and ahemispherical base;

When;the .filled-.containers"are removed from the handling unit of--.F.lGS. 1 and ,2, preferably-they are transferred to a-liddingunit whereat they are sealed by a conventional sealing and lidding process, again syn-- chronised with the de-stacking and filling unit.

After being sealed-{the jcontainers are preferably.

transported to a washingand/or drying unit and finally,

after beinginverted, to'a combining unit as illustrated: in FIGS...6, to 9 whereat each container is combined.

witha drinking cup to provide. a complete package.

Referring to, FIGS; 56' to 9, in FIGS. 6 and 7 the..-gen. eral layout of the combiner unit for the containers and cup is shown. The containers will be referred to as inner containers because; the cups are dropped over same. By the, same rule, the cups will be referred to as ,outer cups. in FIGS. 6 and .7, it will be seen that the apparatus includes a lower housing 210 which stands. on-fee t 212 and on top of the housing is mounted an endless conveyor band,214 which may be of flexible web material or may be of a pivotally interconnected slat type conveyor. The conveyor belt 214 travels roundt pulleys respectively at the ends of a support frame 216 for the'conveyor belt and the axes of rota- The upper reach of the conveyor is the working reach,

i.e., it carries the inverted inner containers whilst the lower reach returns along a guide 222 located under the upper reach.

Considering FIGS. 6 and 7 the inner containers travel on the conveyor 214 from left to right and the left hand end of the conveyor belt 214 is supplied'with inverted inner containers which have been filled with carbonated beverage as explained with reference to FIGS. 1

and 2 and sealed by means of an sealing unit. The inner containers are supplied by an auxiliary conveyor which lies alongside conveyor 214 and slightly overlaps same. The inverted inner containers first meet a screw feeder 224 which lies alongside the conveyor belt 214 and slightly above same so that the conveyor 224 can receive, feed and space the inner containers at regular intervals. To this end screw conveyor 224 is provided with a tapered left hand end. As the screw conveyor 224 rotates, it engages between each pair of adjacent flights one of the inverted inner containers and from this point there is a positive control on the position-of that inner container. Along the length of screw con veyor 224 therefore the inner containers become regularly'spaced and prior to the point where the inner containers leave 5 rew conveyor 224, they are engaged by flights on an endless alongside which is disposed in a horizontal plane and is guided round pulleys 226, 228. This endless chain is located alaongside and slightly above the conveyor belt 214 as indicated in FIGS. 6 and 7 and the flights 230 (see FIG. 9) extend radially outwards from the chain and the tips of the flights have a path of travel as indicated by 232 in FIG. 6 The flights 230 are regularly spaced so that each engages an inner container on belt 214 and pushes same past an outer cup dropping head indicated in FIGS. 6 and 7 by eference numeral 234 from which inverted outer cups are dropped one by one from a stack contained in the head 234, so that each inverted inner container receives a inverted outer cup and composite packages made up of an inner container and an outer cup are fed from and to the right of head 234 in FIGS. :6 .a d 7.

The head 234 operates substantially the same as the de-stacker illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5 and therefore no further description is given here. The head 234 also has the facility of being pivoted clear of the conveyor 214 for mai ntenance and for the clearance of blockages.

The drive mechanism or the apparatus illustrated derives from an electric motor 236 contained in housing 210. Electric motor 236 drives a gear box 238 through an endless belt 240 and the output from gear box238 drives through a chain and sprocket mechanism 242-, a horizontal drive shaft 244 (FIG, 6) which in turn drives through gearbox .246 the screw conveyor 244 and also drives through bevel gearing 248 a chain and sprocket arrangement 250 which in turn drives the drive pulley for conveyor belt 214.

The drive for the cup dropping head 234 is taken from shaft 244 through an endless chain 252 so that the motions of the driven parts of the combiner unit are synchronised with each other, and also with'theother units of the apparatus and are adapted for continuous operation. Inner containers are thereforefed continuously past the head 234 at regular intervals as defined by the flights 230 and in synchronism with this movernent the outer cups are dropped onebyone so that the composite packages are delivered at the end of conveyor 214. The drive from gear box 238 also drives the endless chain having the flights 230 via a further bevel gear box 254.

FIG. 8 shows how an'outercup 256 -is dropped from the dropping head 234 onto an inverted inner container 258-. It issto be noted that the inner-container is of the shape alreadyillustrated in previous figures. The outer cup is -of .thesame generally inverted frusto-conical shape. but-hasfa flat base. The inner container and outerzcupare of course self-aligning by being of frustoconical. shapeas the-cup 2,56 drops over container 258, and moreover this shape allows for a margin of error in the registration of inner container and outer cup 256 as the latter falls; due tothe fact that the largest diameter of the-cupflis meeting the smallest diameter of the con tainer iti falling over the container. 3

FIG.'9 illustates.'as mentioned previously. the operative relationship of flights 230 and inner containers 258. 'It-will b'c noticed that the flights 230 extend so as to over-lap the Inner containers258 by more than half the'width of the containers. This ensures that there is no tendency for the containers 258 to jam in the flights 23Q.'The flights-230are in fact driven at a slightly lower speed than that of conveyor 214 to ensure that the flights remainin firm'coritact-with the containers engaged therebyan'd this ensures the accurate spacing of the containers 258 as they: pass-under head 234'.

FIG )9 also illustrates 'a camj260 which is driven by th'e'driv-e mechanism of the apparatus. This cam is arranged to actuate 'avab/e 262 once per revolution of the cam and the ad uation of "valve 262 results in the application of airjets to'eachoutcr cup after it has been separated-from th 'bottom of the stack of outer cups and isi'n"a positionl tofall onto an inverted container 258located there-udder? This ensures that the cup accelerates away from the remainder of the stack and there is-the minimum of. delay between the separation of the container and-its r eaching aposition wherein it overlies'the container 258. The air-'j'et nozzles are located at 'th ends of the'=upri ght: guides 264 illustrated in FIG. 7. hese guides also serve to hold the stack of invertedeups in position in the cup droppinghead 234. FIG. 7 also-shows the rotors 266-which are driven continuously with the continuous operation of theapparams and which impart an initial separation to the bottom ct p of the stack priorto such cup beingaccelera'ted away fror'n'tlie' rpmaindc rpf the stack and in a downwards direction by the air-jets as afore'saidf "Han" l'ingapparatfu s for handling thin walled containers'iiicliiding a handling unit comprising a plurality of individualficdntainer "holders .ea'ch adapted m hold a container in" upright-"manner therein; means maintaining the tra ners "in spaced relationship and definingan endless path, rriean sforin'bving the holdersin said endless path', each ofsaid of'being s p'litvertically to define two arts which are e' latively displace able vertically mm a holder alas-ea position to a holderope'n position in whi'ehon'eof said holder parts'be'comes an'upper holder part and the other of said parts'b eco rnes a lower holder part sothat a" container can be moved horizon- .tally into the upper liblder'part bya 'cont ainer'moving meansQari'd means for'ielativeIy displacing vertically theholdr partsofe'ach holder-from the holder closed position tb'theh'old'fdp'en positiona'nd for returning holder table, the apparatus including means for rotating the table about a vertical axis passing through the center of the table.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the holder parts of each holder define a cavity of the profile of the container to be held by the holder.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein each holder is split centrally so that each part defines half of said cavity, the split lying tangentially to the table periphery so that the parts are inner and outer relative to said path.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein of each holder the outer part is adapted to slide vertically downwards exposing the half cavity of the inner part.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the means for relatively displacing vertically theholder parts includes a cam track surrounding the table, and a cam follower which is connected to the outer holder part and which engages the cam track during one revolution of the table to move the outer part of each holder between the closed and open positions.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, including a plurality of filling heads adapted to fill the containers oneby-one as they are held in said holders, said filling heads being mounted for rotation with said holder table, and each having a filling nozzle in vertical register with each holder, and is adapted to fill a container held in a holder when said container is raised against the appropriate filling nozzle by said raising means.

8. Apparatus for de-stacking and handling thinwalled containers comprising a de-stacking unit adapted to hold a stack of containers and separate same one-by-one from the bottom of the stack of containers, trandfer means having means defining spaced cavities each adapted to hold a container, means drivingly connected to said transfer means for moving the means defining the cavities so that the cavities move between the de-stacker unit and a filling unit, said filling unit comprising a plurality of individual container holders each adapted to hold a container in upright manner therein, means maintaining the holders in spaced relationship and defining an endless path, means for moving said holders in said endless path,

each of said holders being split vertically to define two parts which are relatively displaceable vertically from a holder closed position, to a holder open position in which one of said holder parts becomes an upper holder part and the other of said holder parts becomes a lower holder part so that a container can be moved horizontally from the transfer means into the upper holder part, means for relatively displacing vertically the holder parts of each holder from the holder closed position to the holder open position and for returning the parts to the holder closed position.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said destacking unit comprises a magazine for the stack of containers. a plurality of rotors disposed around the stack, means for rotating the rotors in synchronism. the rotors being so positioned and having helical grooves which engage top flanges of the containers in the stack in turn, to impart to each bottom container. an initial separation from the remainder of the stack, and air-jet applying means operative to blow the partially denested bottom container away from the remainder of the stack and into a cavity of the transfer means. said rotors, air-jet applying means and transfer means being interconnected by connection means for operation in synchronism to ensure the blowing of a container into a cavity of the transfer means as it passes under said stack.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the transfer means comprises a horizontally disposed transfer table and means for rotating the transfer table about a vertical axis, said cavities being located equiangularly spaced on the table on a pitch circle having its center on the axis of rotation of the transfer table and includ ing gear means connecting the rotors and the table in that the table revolves simultaneously with the rotors.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the means connecting the air-jet means with the transfer table and rotors, comprises a cam connected to the transfer table and a cam follower positioned to be operated by the cam connected to the transfer table, said cam follower being connected to valve means operatively controlling said air-jet means. 

1. Handling apparatus for handling thin walled containers including a handling unit comprising a plurality of individual container holders each adapted to hold a container in upright manner therein, means maintaining the holders in spaced relationship and defining an endless path, means for moving the holders in said endless path, each of said of being split vertically to define two parts which are relatively displaceable vertically from a holder closed position to a holder open position in which one of said holder parts becomes an upper holder part and the other of said parts becomes a lower holder part so that a container can be moved horizontally into the upper holder part by a container moving means, and means for relatively displacing vertically the holder parts of each holder from the holder closed position to the holder open position and for returning the parts to the holder closed position.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein (said endless path is circular and is disposed horizontally), the means maintaining the holders in spaced relationship and defining said endless path comprises a circular holder table, the apparatus including means for rotating the table about a vertical axis passing through the center of the table.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the holder parts of each holder define a cavity of the profile of the container to be held by the holder.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein each holder is split centrally so that each part defines half of said cavity, the split lying tangentially to the table periphery so that the parts are inner and outer relative to said path.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein of each holder the outer part is adapted to slide vertically downwards exposing the half cavity of the inner part.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the means for relatively displacing vertically the holder parts includes a cam track surrounding the table, and a cam follower which is connected to the outer holder part and which engages the cam track during one revolution of the table to move the outer part of each holder between the closed and open positions.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, including a plurality of filling heads adapted to fill the containers one-by-one as they are held in said holders, said filling heads being mounted for rotation with said holder table, and each having a filling nozzle in vertical register with each holder, and is adapted to fill a container held in a holder when said container is raised against the appropriate filling nozzle by said raising means.
 8. Apparatus for de-stacking and handling thin-walled containers comprising a de-stacking unit adapted to hold a stack of containers and separate same one-by-one from the bottom of the stack of containers, trandfer means having means defining spaced cavities each adapted to hold a container, means drivingly connected to said transfer means for moving the means defining the cavities so that the cavities move between the de-stacker unit and a filling unit, said filling unit comprising a plurality of individual container holders each adapted to hold a container in upright manner therein, means maintaining the holders in spaced relationship and defining an endless path, means for moving said holders in said endless path, each of said holders being split vertically to define two parts which are relatively displaceable vertically from a holder closed position, to a holder open position in which one of said holder parts becomes an upper holder part and the other of said holder parts becomes a lower holder part so that a containEr can be moved horizontally from the transfer means into the upper holder part, means for relatively displacing vertically the holder parts of each holder from the holder closed position to the holder open position and for returning the parts to the holder closed position.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said de-stacking unit comprises a magazine for the stack of containers, a plurality of rotors disposed around the stack, means for rotating the rotors in synchronism, the rotors being so positioned and having helical grooves which engage top flanges of the containers in the stack in turn, to impart to each bottom container, an initial separation from the remainder of the stack, and air-jet applying means operative to blow the partially de-nested bottom container away from the remainder of the stack and into a cavity of the transfer means, said rotors, air-jet applying means and transfer means being interconnected by connection means for operation in synchronism to ensure the blowing of a container into a cavity of the transfer means as it passes under said stack.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the transfer means comprises a horizontally disposed transfer table and means for rotating the transfer table about a vertical axis, said cavities being located equiangularly spaced on the table on a pitch circle having its center on the axis of rotation of the transfer table and including gear means connecting the rotors and the table in that the table revolves simultaneously with the rotors.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the means connecting the air-jet means with the transfer table and rotors, comprises a cam connected to the transfer table and a cam follower positioned to be operated by the cam connected to the transfer table, said cam follower being connected to valve means operatively controlling said air-jet means. 